Practical Application of Multivendor MRI-Based R2* Mapping for Liver Iron Quantification at 1.5 T and 3.0 T

Authors

Gregory Simchick
Ruiyang Zhao
Qing Yuan
Mounes Aliyari Ghasabeh
Stefan Ruschke
Dimitrios C Karampinos
David T Harris
Raphael do Vale Souza
Ryan J Mattison
Michael R Jeng
Ivan Pedrosa
Ihab R Kamel
Shreyas Vasanawala
Takeshi Yokoo
Scott B Reeder
Diego Hernando

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Journal

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

DOI

10.1002/jmri.29401

PMID

38662618

PMCID

PMC11502507

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

4-25-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Background: Recent multicenter, multivendor MRI-based R2* vs. liver iron concentration (LIC) calibrations (i.e., MCMV calibrations) may facilitate broad clinical dissemination of R2*-based LIC quantification. However, these calibrations are based on a centralized offline R2* reconstruction, and their applicability with vendor-provided R2* maps is unclear.

Purpose: To determine R2* ranges of agreement between the centralized and three MRI vendors' R2* reconstructions.

Study type: Prospective.

Subjects: Two hundred and seven subjects (mean age 37.6 ± 19.6 years; 117 male) with known or suspected iron overload from four academic medical centers.

Field strength/sequence: Standardized multiecho spoiled gradient echo sequence at 1.5 T and 3.0 T for R2* mapping and a multiple spin-echo sequence at 1.5 T for LIC quantification. MRI vendors: GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, and Siemens Healthineers.

Assessment: R2* maps were generated using both the centralized and vendor reconstructions, and ranges of agreement were determined. R2*-LIC linear calibrations were determined for each site, field strength, and reconstruction and compared with the MCMV calibrations.

Statistical tests: Bland-Altman analysis to determine ranges of agreement. Linear regression, analysis of covariance F tests, and Tukey's multiple comparison testing to assess reproducibility of calibrations across sites and vendors. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The upper limits of R2* ranges of agreement were approximately 500, 375, and 330 s-1 for GE, Philips, and Siemens reconstructions, respectively, at 1.5 T and approximately 700 and 800 s-1 for GE and Philips, respectively, at 3.0 T. Within the R2* ranges of agreement, vendor R2*-LIC calibrations demonstrated high reproducibility (no significant differences between slopes or intercepts; P ≥ 0.06) and agreed with the MCMV calibrations (overlapping 95% confidence intervals).

Data conclusion: Based on the determined upper limits, R2* measurements obtained from vendor-provided R2* maps may be reliably and practically used to quantify LIC less than approximately 8-13 mg/g using the MCMV calibrations and similar acquisition parameters as this study.

Evidence level: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Keywords

Humans, Male, Liver, Female, Adult, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Prospective Studies, Iron, Iron Overload, Middle Aged, Reproducibility of Results, Calibration, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Young Adult, Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted, liver, iron overload, liver iron concentration, quantitative MRI

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Simchick, Gregory; Zhao, Ruiyang; Yuan, Qing; et al., "Practical Application of Multivendor MRI-Based R2* Mapping for Liver Iron Quantification at 1.5 T and 3.0 T" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 6411.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthgsbs_docs/6411